Fifty Plus (50+) - If you could excel at any sport, what would it be?

Had coffee this morning with a bunch of geezer cyclists I ride with often, guys (and a couple of women) generally 55-65, most of them pretty fit and experienced.
Somebody had watched the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and mentioned that if he had his life to do over, he'd like to be a racing driver. That would be my choice, too. I did race sports cars a little in my 20s and 30s, but didn't have the money, dedication or talent to be more than a hobbyist (it really is an athletic challenge, as much as any other sport).
Somebody else, a 60-something physician, said that in his heart, he's still a major league shortstop. Another guy said he still sees himself throwing the winning TD pass in the Rose Bowl (he played in it in the '70s). It surprised me that nobody mentioned winning the Tour, even though most of the group are accomplished cyclists with several centuries to their credit.
I'd still be racing a mid-range sports car on road courses, something fast enough to be fun but not so fast I'd be likely to kill myself. Anybody else?

None whatsoever. I'm as nonathletic as they come.

Still, I was watching a co-ed non-competitive softball game at my church and was thinking about maybe signing up for it next year. My greatest fear would be to rip a knee on a sudden turn.

I always wanted to be a competitive basket weaver but I am allergic to wicker.

In order of preference, cycling & baseball. My love of cycling has been lifelong. My love of baseball was tempered by not being able to see fastballs over 89 mph. But, on a serious note, I'd rather look forward and determine what sport I want to invest in for the remainder of my life. And, that choice is clearly cycling.

Downhill ski racing. Oh yeah! Nothing gets me going like watching those guys forcing those corners on the edge of crashing. I lost my left knee in a giant slalom race way back when, before there was dirt. I would have liked to have been sucessful at it, but afterwards the knee was never the same and my testicles got small besides. So now I cross country ski in the winter and bike in the summer. I stil downhill ski now and then, but never in anger like the old days.

Greg

I was never much into sports as a kid, and still would rather ride my bicycle, swim, walk or lift weights over watching a football, baseball, soccer game or even a bicycle race or event. I was raised during those learning years in the boonies 15 miles away from much of anything else, and did not really have the opportunity to devlop the skills. Additionally, I did not have good eyesight, and did not really discover that until high school.

However, I find that I am not poorly coordinated, and is was a great pleasure today having a fellow swimmer highly compliment me on my swimming form and endurance. That sort of made my day, as I have only been swimming for 2.5 years. I did play some competitive badminton - totally unlike what you see played in the backyard - when I was in the Air Force.

To answer the question, I would really like to be able to downhill (or even cross country) ski excellently. Although I took some downhill lessons, I never got very good, but I think I could have given more opportinities. My son was an excellent "Black" skier, prior to his accident.

Offshore sailing.

Calvinball!

I've never been a sports kinda guy -- you know -- don't care for football, baseball, basketball, running, horseback riding (is that a sport?), fishing, snow sports, etc.
But since I took up cycling 10 years ago I've always wanted to do road racing or cyclocross. But it's not gonna happen at 65 years of age. :(

With my lifelong challenges in hand-eye and large-muscle coordination, I have never aspired to excel in any sport. Team sports were the worst, in the sense that I was always the last one chosen. I do lift weights and enjoy hiking and running, but bicycling is the one sport I have truly loved. I was almost 12 years old when I could finally figure out how to stay upright on two wheels, but I owe my current cardiovascular health to the fact that I have kept riding ever since.

always admired skateboarders and baseball players

Yeah, I guess I would go with the same thing the OP suggested, sport car racer. IMO, sportcar racing on anykind of racing with CURVES would be my thing. Can't stand the NASCAR bit, just going around in circles, or straight line drag racing.

A few:

Intermediate distance runner (1 mile - 10K) - Wasn't fast enough in my youth, getting doen to 4:22 freshman year in college.
Big Wave surfer - No $$$ in it back around 1980. Still surf regularly.
Mountain climber - Have done some of this in the late 1980s- 1990s, traveling to South America a few times, and Alaska. Still do some 'peakbagging' here in Southern California/Sierra Nevada Mtns.
XC skiier - Exhausting but exhillerating, and great to get out in the quiet winter backconutry, away from the overpopulated noisy ski resorts.

I've always ridden a bicycle, but mainly for local tranportation, but never really thought if it as a 'profession.' Along with just doing it for enjoyment, its a great workout when you have questionable joints.

I always wanted to be a basketball player. Spent most of my youth practicing and playing every chance I had. At the HS basketball coach's request I ran track and cross country in order to be a better basketball player. I even went to college to play basketball. My freshman year at college a new coach came in, and I was not in his plan, so the college offered me a partial scholarship to do the decathlon on the track and field team. I did OK in the decathlon, was All American three times and qualified for the 76' Olympic Trails but still believed I could have played college basketball. At 6' tall I could still dunk a basketball on my 40th birthday. I still have dreams in which I'm playing against NBA players, and I school them.:D

I guess that I'm still pissed off about not playing college basketball. This thread brought back up some deep seated memories.

Oh, I re-read the OP.

If I could I'd love to be able to uncork a 100 MPH fastball.

Oh, I re-read the OP.

If I could I'd love to be able to uncork a 100 MPH fastball.

A little dab of Deep Woods Off on the ball could work wonders.:innocent:

Gymnast. I think those guys have perfect bodies and can do incredible things. Did a little in HS, but was never any good. Being a world class miler would have been cool too. Of course the $ is in pro team sports. If I had to choose one of those it would be baseball.

Played team sports as a kid, pretty much gave it up at about 14, as I just wasn't good enough at any of them to do more than be on the team. Didn't have all that much preference, either; they all had their down sides that would have kept me from abandoning all else in my pursuit of one.

I KNOW -- coach!

...
Somebody had watched the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and mentioned that if he had his life to do over, he'd like to be a racing driver. That would be my choice, too.

Hey, I'm watching the 24 Heures du Mans right now, too! I can't stand stick and ball sports, but I appreciate the skill, risk and teamwork involved with motor sports.

As a kid, I always wanted to be Bobby Orr. To be a truly graceful hockey player, that would be divine. As it is, I can't go from forwards to backwards skating at any speed at all without risking grave injury.

Or a great mid-distance track athlete. Back when the still ran the mile....

I wouldn't want to be a truly great cyclist. I aspire to improve myself and to enjoy it, but somehow the serious racing doesn't appeal to me.

For personal satisfaction, it would be bike racing.

But for all the other reasons... it would be whatever paid the most money.
Definitely not motorsports though.

It is a toss up for me. My first choice would be pro tennis and second pro golf. I played a lot of tennis as a kid and high school tennis team. Started playing a lot after I started working. The same with golf. Golf is a great sport but just not enough action for me.

I was one of those fit buggers when I was young.

School was the first training ground but Rugby in the winter and Athletics in the summer. In the forces and the Rugby carried on for a while but a 130lb winger that could run did not last long after being hit a few times by 220lb Lumps of flesh. Boxing came in and this carried on till I came out. Had to stay fit so joined a local Athletics club and finished up doing 15mile crosscountry.

Always had an interest in Motor Sport and got into Karting in the 70's. The interest was Endurance Racing- 6-12 and 24hour racing but had to go to France to do it. Joined a French Club and became competent coming 2nd in the European Championships 4 years running. Could never put the money in to do enough events to get the top spot. Karting may be a cheap motorsport but it still costs alot of money. Eventually I had to settle down and back to the UK and a mortgage and family put paid to a lot of things till 1990 when I took up cycling. Took that up to retain some of the fitness that I was rapidly losing as it was kinder on the knees that were beginning to cause a few problems after so many years of physical activity.

But now- coming to the end of my Physical capabilities- I can look back and say that I have enjoyed sport all of my life. If not participating then watching it. Only thing is Cricket. A game I never got interested in. Too slow and I never had the any skill in it.

I was fortunate in that I was able to race professionally for a few years (drag racing, Funny Car (old school)) and also played professional soccer at a very low level. Knowing what I do now, I wish I had converted my soccer playing days over to Refereeing 20 years earlier than I did. I know a couple of younger ref's that do major college and even MLS games.

Um, is sex a sport?

Can I even ask that?

If you don't answer cycling , aren't you in the wrong forum.. no sport caught my eye as a kid.. Cycling did early on. I can imagine no greater thrill than standing on a podium with a podium girl kissing you. Cycling is so cool, It would even be ok to be a domestique..
Second sports.. Scuba diving and swimming I guess. Soccer sort of gets my attention , but being more coordinated is something I'd have to work on..

Windsurfing (or maybe kitesailing now). I windsurfed for about 18 years and was pretty good but I never got to that expert level (e.g. loops, super good jibes) that I dreamed about. That may have been because I didn't start until I was 38 or it may be because I suck at athletics :)

Um, is sex a sport?


Some consider it a team sport, others a competitive sport. It's the one's who consider it an individual sport I worry about.

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

Baseball, without a doubt.

Those guys make obscene amounts of money, and have 5 months off to spend riding a bike, wherever they want.

Then, retire at a very early age, to have more time available to spend riding a bike, wherever they want...........

And, do nothing but play games, while they are working.....

#1 choice - relief pitcher or closer for the Red Sox
#2 choice - Linebacker for any pro football team

Badminton

I don't know if you're joking but you should look up badmittion on youtube.

Um, is sex a sport?

Can I even ask that?

Ummm... That has been an achievable goal (almost all of the time).

Being a Navy Seal, as long as we are dreaming up goals.

I have no interest in sports. I never did, and at 55 I still don't. I do wish that I played a musical instrument well enough to play in an orchestra, or even just a garage band.

I'm guessing that I would excel at cycling. I wish that when I bought my first road bike a long time ago I would have stuck with it.

Also, I've been a reasonable shot in my time, so I would have to say I could perhaps have excelled in competitive shooting. Back in the day, I competed on a team. I still enjoy shooting, but I don't compete any more.

I'd say Pro Cycling, but just the thought of road rash makes me kringe. It would have to be golf and yes I've never swung a club in my life. Just trying to think of something with a little less contact other than the club head on the ball. Pays pretty good and the scenery isn't bad either.

I played amateur badminton competition a bit. It has to be one of the MOST cardio sports around. It is sad that what folks play in their backyards is also called badminton!!

I have no interest in sports. I never did, and at 55 I still don't. I do wish that I played a musical instrument well enough to play in an orchestra, or even just a garage band.

Yeah. Wish I could play sax like Coltrane. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no musical talent.

Basketball or baseball. Being a pro cyclist would ruin a good hobby.

If you don't answer cycling , aren't you in the wrong forum.. no sport caught my eye as a kid.. Cycling did early on. I can imagine no greater thrill than standing on a podium with a podium girl kissing you. Cycling is so cool, It would even be ok to be a domestique..


You win da prize!

Cycling and prizefighting are the only sports. Everything else is just a game.

My apologies to Papa.

I am currently training for the 4,000 year breathing competition.

You win da prize!

Cycling and prizefighting are the only sports. Everything else is just a game.

My apologies to Papa.

I am currently training for the 4,000 year breathing competition.

And then there's chess...

Um, is sex a sport?

Can I even ask that?

If you are still thinking about it I'm sure it is.

Now-a-days you can be a doper in that, sport...

MotoGP racer, if not that like surfrider said a big wave surfer.
Both off the hook and so cool.

Definitely baseball. I played baseball for 7 years and was half-way decent at it.

I'd be a centerfielder.

Tennis.

Was completely turned off to sports when I was young due to growth and muscle delays that made me almost useless on a field, and the contempt of other kids at my abilities didn't help.
Discovering cycling and running as a teenager was a godsend, as well as having good friends that were likewise misfits at team sports. Even now, I'm a pretty good runner and a fair wrestler, as a few young relatives have challenged me in fun (I'm small). Wish I'd had the confidence to do these competetively in school.

Never really been into it as Rugby was my game. But I am rapidly being turned off footbal (Soccer). Last Saturday when the USA had a good result- one of my neighbours was having a few friends round for beers and watch the match. To be sociable I went round for 5 minutes and asked how many runs each side had scored.

Thought I was going to get lynched- but all I have heard on the Radio and seen on the TV is bl**dy football. Last Weekend there was the Le Mans 24 hour race (Think I saw about 15 hours of it) F.1 practice and race and The Dauphin and Tour of Switzerland in cycling. I had too much other sport to watch and still trying to catch up the recorder on the cycling.

Oh-- and I still got a ride in for myself aswell. The fingers on my right hand ache today from overuse of the TV remote.

IF is a big word (for a little word), but yes either Formula 1 or Pro Cycling.

Hey Stapfam, don't know if you're a McLaren fan, but hats off the Lewis and Jenson in the last two races! And Martin has done a good job taking over for Ron Dennis too.

Anyway, yes I've been an F-1 fan since the days of Jimmy Clark and John Surtees.

Okay, or Pro Cycling even though it's a hard life, and yes I know neither will ever happen, but hey, IF, or a lot of IF's, really.

Rick / OCRR

Never really been into it as Rugby was my game. But I am rapidly being turned off footbal (Soccer). Last Saturday when the USA had a good result- one of my neighbours was having a few friends round for beers and watch the match. To be sociable I went round for 5 minutes and asked how many runs each side had scored.

Thought I was going to get lynched- but all I have heard on the Radio and seen on the TV is bl**dy football. Last Weekend there was the Le Mans 24 hour race (Think I saw about 15 hours of it) F.1 practice and race and The Dauphin and Tour of Switzerland in cycling. I had too much other sport to watch and still trying to catch up the recorder on the cycling.

Oh-- and I still got a ride in for myself aswell. The fingers on my right hand ache today from overuse of the TV remote.

I listen to the BBC World Service at night. Something about those soothing sometimes plummy anchor voices is so comforting. However the near hysteria for the WC game opening was irritating. Don't mind football just don't like enthusiasm in my nightly feed. Of course if was cycling I'd feel differently. If it was the World Cup of all kinds of bike riding they could shout as far as I care...

It is cool that football has gotten a boost here in the USA from the WC games. It's really a great game compared to American football. Soccer just doesn't have enough breaks so TV can show the commercial ads most Americans seem to need with their football. Case in point: The Super Bowl seems to be mainly a competition between ad agencies and the game is merely a medium.

Yeah I'd have to go with cycling, she stole my heart and possibly my soul.

Still playing hockey with 130 other 55+ guys three times a week. Always played, not good enough for a career but love taking to the ice every time. Cycling keeps the engine in shape.